Gay was raised by his uncle after his parents died in 1694 and 1695. His career was erratic - some of his work was very popular during his lifetime (the Beggar's Opera and the libretto for Handel's Actis and Galatea), and some of it flopped; but his influence on English literature, particularly through the Beggar's Opera, has been considerable.

References

Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1993-97
Dictionary of National Biography
Nokes, David. John Gay: A Profession of Friendship. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995)
Warner, Oliver. John Gay. (London: Longmans, Green, 1964)
Bear, Richard. "The Beggar's Opera: John Gay: Transcribed, with an Introduction, Notes, and Bibliography: [Biographical Introduction]." [Includes portrait]. Available at: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~rbear/beggar.html

Indexes

European
Uk/great Britain
17th Century
18th Century
Literature
Theater, Broadcasting, Cinema
School-age Years, Adolescence
Orphaned (Both Parents)
Uncles and Aunts, Parents' Uncles and Aunts
Parent(s) Died, Disappeared or Became Incapacitated